Results a year ago were affected by a strong dollar and tougher competition as it filled a lower percentage of seats on a year-on-year basis.

This year, Emirates has had to contend with travel restrictions imposed by the United States which mostly impacted carriers in the Middle East, although have since largely been lifted. The airline cut frequencies on some US flights in a response to those restrictions weakening passenger demand.

Mr Clark said demand had fallen by around 15 per cent to 18 per cent on US flights, though the airline had just had "a very robust summer" there.